Utz doubles New England plant employment in year after acquisition

York County-based Utz Quality Foods Inc. said it more than doubled the workforce in 2012 at a previously acquired plant in New England, where Utz has grown to a market-leading position in the past few years, according to a news release.

Utz acquired The Wachusett Potato Chip Co.'s facility in Fitchburg, Mass., along with trucks and equipment, in 2011 and has made investments at the plant, the release stated.

It makes Utz and Wachusett chips there and added Utz Potato Stix in 2012, a year when employment grew from 32 to 67, according to the release.

Utz operates 14 distribution facilities in the New England area, and half are in Massachusetts, the release stated. In the past three years, Utz has become the Boston and Connecticut markets' leading regional chip brand, according to the release.